Sources and health risks of heavy metal(loid) contamination in farmland near Shanxi coal mines

Heavy metal(loid) contamination in farmlands around coal mining areas significantly threatens ecosystem stability and human health. In this study, the extent and sources of heavy metal(loid) contamination in farmland near Shanxi coal mines were assessed using the absolute principal component scores-...

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Main Authors: Li Cao, Huirong Duan, Bijun Cheng, Qianying Xiang, Shuhan Wang, Zixuan Fu, Xiaofang Xu, Qianjun Ren, Hanqi Yang, Yufeng Yu, Hongmei Zhang, Xiujuan Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Soil Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoil.2025.1630336/full
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author Li Cao
Li Cao
Li Cao
Li Cao
Huirong Duan
Huirong Duan
Bijun Cheng
Bijun Cheng
Qianying Xiang
Qianying Xiang
Shuhan Wang
Shuhan Wang
Zixuan Fu
Zixuan Fu
Xiaofang Xu
Xiaofang Xu
Qianjun Ren
Qianjun Ren
Hanqi Yang
Yufeng Yu
Yufeng Yu
Hongmei Zhang
Hongmei Zhang
Xiujuan Yang
Xiujuan Yang
Xiujuan Yang
Xiujuan Yang
author_facet Li Cao
Li Cao
Li Cao
Li Cao
Huirong Duan
Huirong Duan
Bijun Cheng
Bijun Cheng
Qianying Xiang
Qianying Xiang
Shuhan Wang
Shuhan Wang
Zixuan Fu
Zixuan Fu
Xiaofang Xu
Xiaofang Xu
Qianjun Ren
Qianjun Ren
Hanqi Yang
Yufeng Yu
Yufeng Yu
Hongmei Zhang
Hongmei Zhang
Xiujuan Yang
Xiujuan Yang
Xiujuan Yang
Xiujuan Yang
author_sort Li Cao
collection DOAJ
description Heavy metal(loid) contamination in farmlands around coal mining areas significantly threatens ecosystem stability and human health. In this study, the extent and sources of heavy metal(loid) contamination in farmland near Shanxi coal mines were assessed using the absolute principal component scores-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) model. Additionally, a probabilistic health risk assessment model was developed using Monte Carlo simulation to determine the health risks faced by local residents. The average concentrations of soil Pb, Hg, Mn, and Zn was 28.56mg/kg, 0.17mg/kg, 666.29mg/kg, and 83.49mg/kg, respectively. In maize, Pb, Zn, and Cr concentrations exceeded their respective safety thresholds, with exceedance occurrence rates of 16.67%, 95.83%, and 100%, respectively. Among them, Cr exhibited the highest bioaccumulation factor (BCF), reaching 0.55 in maize. Five main sources of soil heavy metal(loid) contamination were identified: coal mining activities, air pollution, agricultural practices, natural sources, and coal combustion. Probabilistic health risk assessment revealed that the average non-carcinogenic hazard index (HI) values of soil-mediated heavy metal(loid) exposure remained below 1 for both children and adults, although the average HI for children was 2.96 times higher than adults. However, the average HI of maize-mediated heavy metal(loid) exposure exceeded the risk threshold, reaching 1.44 for children and 1.27 for adults. In contrast, the overall carcinogenic risk (CR) of maize-mediated heavy metal(loid) was 3.71 times higher in adults than in children. In conclusion, the farmland near Shanxi coal mines was severely contaminated with heavy metal(loid)s, with coal mining activities being the main pollution source. Local residents, particularly children, faced substantial health threats.
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spelling doaj-art-fd3adfa5610b4b1ea57959722c0bbdb22025-08-20T02:37:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Soil Science2673-86192025-07-01510.3389/fsoil.2025.16303361630336Sources and health risks of heavy metal(loid) contamination in farmland near Shanxi coal minesLi Cao0Li Cao1Li Cao2Li Cao3Huirong Duan4Huirong Duan5Bijun Cheng6Bijun Cheng7Qianying Xiang8Qianying Xiang9Shuhan Wang10Shuhan Wang11Zixuan Fu12Zixuan Fu13Xiaofang Xu14Xiaofang Xu15Qianjun Ren16Qianjun Ren17Hanqi Yang18Yufeng Yu19Yufeng Yu20Hongmei Zhang21Hongmei Zhang22Xiujuan Yang23Xiujuan Yang24Xiujuan Yang25Xiujuan Yang26Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaDepartment of Public Health Laboratory Sciences, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaAcademy of Medical Science, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaDepartment of Public Health Laboratory Sciences, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaDepartment of Public Health Laboratory Sciences, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaDepartment of Public Health Laboratory Sciences, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaDepartment of Public Health Laboratory Sciences, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaSchool of Management, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaSchool of Management, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaSchool of Management, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaShanxi Lipu Innovation Technology Co., Ltd., Taiyuan, ChinaShanxi Key Laboratory of Functional Proteins, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Ministry of Education, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaDepartment of Public Health Laboratory Sciences, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaShanxi Key Laboratory of Functional Proteins, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaAcademic Affairs Office, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaHeavy metal(loid) contamination in farmlands around coal mining areas significantly threatens ecosystem stability and human health. In this study, the extent and sources of heavy metal(loid) contamination in farmland near Shanxi coal mines were assessed using the absolute principal component scores-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) model. Additionally, a probabilistic health risk assessment model was developed using Monte Carlo simulation to determine the health risks faced by local residents. The average concentrations of soil Pb, Hg, Mn, and Zn was 28.56mg/kg, 0.17mg/kg, 666.29mg/kg, and 83.49mg/kg, respectively. In maize, Pb, Zn, and Cr concentrations exceeded their respective safety thresholds, with exceedance occurrence rates of 16.67%, 95.83%, and 100%, respectively. Among them, Cr exhibited the highest bioaccumulation factor (BCF), reaching 0.55 in maize. Five main sources of soil heavy metal(loid) contamination were identified: coal mining activities, air pollution, agricultural practices, natural sources, and coal combustion. Probabilistic health risk assessment revealed that the average non-carcinogenic hazard index (HI) values of soil-mediated heavy metal(loid) exposure remained below 1 for both children and adults, although the average HI for children was 2.96 times higher than adults. However, the average HI of maize-mediated heavy metal(loid) exposure exceeded the risk threshold, reaching 1.44 for children and 1.27 for adults. In contrast, the overall carcinogenic risk (CR) of maize-mediated heavy metal(loid) was 3.71 times higher in adults than in children. In conclusion, the farmland near Shanxi coal mines was severely contaminated with heavy metal(loid)s, with coal mining activities being the main pollution source. Local residents, particularly children, faced substantial health threats.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoil.2025.1630336/fullpotentially toxic elements (PTEs)probabilistic health risk assessmentpollution sourcesoilmaizemining areas
spellingShingle Li Cao
Li Cao
Li Cao
Li Cao
Huirong Duan
Huirong Duan
Bijun Cheng
Bijun Cheng
Qianying Xiang
Qianying Xiang
Shuhan Wang
Shuhan Wang
Zixuan Fu
Zixuan Fu
Xiaofang Xu
Xiaofang Xu
Qianjun Ren
Qianjun Ren
Hanqi Yang
Yufeng Yu
Yufeng Yu
Hongmei Zhang
Hongmei Zhang
Xiujuan Yang
Xiujuan Yang
Xiujuan Yang
Xiujuan Yang
Sources and health risks of heavy metal(loid) contamination in farmland near Shanxi coal mines
Frontiers in Soil Science
potentially toxic elements (PTEs)
probabilistic health risk assessment
pollution source
soil
maize
mining areas
title Sources and health risks of heavy metal(loid) contamination in farmland near Shanxi coal mines
title_full Sources and health risks of heavy metal(loid) contamination in farmland near Shanxi coal mines
title_fullStr Sources and health risks of heavy metal(loid) contamination in farmland near Shanxi coal mines
title_full_unstemmed Sources and health risks of heavy metal(loid) contamination in farmland near Shanxi coal mines
title_short Sources and health risks of heavy metal(loid) contamination in farmland near Shanxi coal mines
title_sort sources and health risks of heavy metal loid contamination in farmland near shanxi coal mines
topic potentially toxic elements (PTEs)
probabilistic health risk assessment
pollution source
soil
maize
mining areas
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoil.2025.1630336/full
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